Legal Lookout: HPV Challenge Program: EPA Goes After Orphan

EPA recently posted on its Chemical Right-to-Know website a new policy, entitled Policy Regarding Acceptance of New Commitments to the High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program, available at www.epa.gov/chemrtk/hpvpolcy.pdf. The policy outlines how companies can commit to sponsor any of the remaining so-called “orphan chemicals,” which include the 300 chemicals that are currently unsponsored under the HPV Chemical Challenge Program. EPA’s website also has a list of the HPV chemicals unsponsored as of July 5, 2005.[1] This column briefly describes the new policy and its implications.